October 2016
Rev. Julio Loza retired as pastor at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 2108 W. 21st Street, Chicago, at the end of September 2016. He came to the area south of the Illinois Medical District, called the Heart of Chicago, in 1980.
The community was changing from German- to Spanish-speaking (Pastor Loza is a native of Bolivia and speaks both languages as well as English). Outreach to new immigrants led to establishing the St. Matthew Community Center adjacent to the historic church building.
El Comedor Popular soup kitchen was started about 1990. At the present, the congregation’s ministries connect with people from Germany, Poland, Italy, Mexico and lately Venezuela, all through El Comedor Popular.
“Through 26 years of ministry to the hungry, we have experienced the presence of Christ in our midst,” he told the people who have supported St. Matthew’s outreach ministry to the elderly, unemployed and homeless living in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.
“We rejoice in sharing Christ’s message of love, forgiveness and salvation of our souls. We went through moments of anxiety and despair when our finances slowed down. However, with your prayers and donations we were able to continue with a unique mission to the hungry.”
The congregation serves noon meals every Tuesday and Thursday to adults in need, and also provides Christian education and a meal to children of the community on Saturday mornings.
Rev. Cesar Sifuentes will be installed as pastor of St. Matthew congregation and continue the pastoral services provided through El Comedor Popular soup kitchen. Maria Leal, who worked with Pastor Loza to start the soup kitchen and has continued to operate it with the help of many volunteers to this day, is currently undergoing medical treatments. Her duties in managing the cooking and feeding of the large number of weekly guests has been assumed by Clara Garcia.
Pastor Loza expressed gratitude for the individuals and congregations that have supported St. Matthew’s community outreach over the years. “With all my heart, I ask you to continue assisting with Christ’s miracle at 21st Street in Chicago,” Pastor Loza expressed.
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Matteson, Illinois, and Pastor Matthew Troester, have been among those supporting churches. Volunteers from St. Paul conduct Vacation Bible School for neighborhood children every summer at St. Matthew and hope that this opportunity to serve will continue.
Other churches and individual donors also provide funds and volunteers for El Comedor Popular and other needs at the church, including helping keep the historic St. Matthew church building up to city code.
Recent years have seen required and extensive renovation of both the community center and the church. That, in part, is why Pastor Loza calls it Christ’s miracle at 21st Street – insurmountable needs dissolve away when God’s generosity is applied.
Donations to support the ministries at St. Matthew can be sent to 2108 W. 21st Street, Chicago, IL 60608.